David
II, King of Scots (1324-1371)Born: 5th March 1324 at Dunfermline Palace, Fife
King of Scots
Died: 22nd February 1371
at Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Midlothian

David II was the son
of King Robert the Bruce by his second wife, Elizabeth
de Burgh. He was born, rather late in his motherís life, at
Dunfermline Palace on 5th March 1324. In accordance with the terms of the
Treaty of Northampton, he was married, in July 1328, to Joanna, the daughter
of King Edward II of England and inherited the Kingdom of Scotland upon his
father's death in June 1329. He was only five and was crowned at Scone Abbey
in November 1331, with the Earl of Moray acting as his regent.

When Davidís nephew,
King Edward III of England and the rival
claimant to the Scottish throne, his protege, Edward Balliol, were
victorious at the Battle of Halidon Hill in July 1333, David and his queen
fled to the safety of the French Court. They reached Boulogne in May 1334
and were most graciously received by the King Philip VI of France. Little is
known about King Davidís time across the Channel, though he was given
Chateau Gaillard as his residence and he was present, in October 1339, at
the bloodless meeting between the French and English armies at Vironfosse.
After seven years of exile, his supporters eventually gained the upper hand
at home and David was able to return to Scotland in June 1341. He quickly
took hold of the reins of government and, in1346, even invaded
England on behalf of the French Alliance. Unfortunately, in the October, he
was defeated at the Battle of Neville's Cross and taken prisoner by the
English. He remained south of the border for eleven years, being Royally
entertained by his nephew in London; under the watchful eye of Sir
William Trussell at Odiham Castle in Hampshire; and at Windsor
Castle in Berkshire, where he suggested his ransom might help pay
for a little upgrading of the strongholdís accommodation!

Negotiations were
immediate, but protracted. Finally, after several interruptions, an
agreement was signed in Berwick in October 1357. Scotland undertook to pay
100,000 marks (£66,666-13s-4d) for the return of their King and he returned
to Scotland at once, having probably first recognised Edward III as his
feudal overlord. Owing to the poverty of his Kingdom, however, King David
found it impossible to raise the money. Only a few installments were paid,
before he attempted to rid himself of such a burden by offering to make the
English King, or one of his sons, his successor to the Scottish Crown. This
was, not surprisingly, a very unpopular move in Scotland, and the Scottish
Parliament indignantly rejected a proposal to make Lionel, Duke of Clarence,
their next monarch, when it was placed before them in 1364. However, after
having suppressed a rising of some of the more disruptive nobles, King David
seems to have continued to treat secretly with Edward over this matter. He
died, with the situation still unresolved, on 22nd February1371. In
short, David was a weak and incapable ruler, with little of his father's
patriotic spirit. He married twice, but left no children, and was succeeded
by his nephew, Robert II.